MEDAL PROPOSED FOR EX-SEALS

Two former Navy SEALs from San Diego County who died defending the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last year should receive the highest award Congress can bestow on a civilian, Rep. Duncan Hunter said Thursday.

The Republican from Alpine backed up that assertion by introducing legislation that would grant the Congressional Gold Medal to Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.

“They ran a half-mile to the sound of gunfire,” Hunter said. “Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods are American heroes for what they did.”

The two were working as private security and intelligence contractors when the compound came under assault on Sept. 11.

Also killed were the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and information officer Sean Smith, a San Diego native. Several others were injured.

Woods’ father, Charles Woods, said his son is worthy of the proposed honor.

“Ty never did these things for recognition, but he deserves it as an inspiration to other people,” he said in a phone interview from Hawaii. “He truly was an American hero.”

The Obama administration’s handling of the Benghazi attack remains a touchy issue in Congress, which could result in Hunter’s bill getting bottled up.

Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles, said the legislation probably will have a good chance in the House, where Republicans are in charge. Its fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate is another matter, he said.

Hunter said he is pushing for the award because Woods and Doherty are ineligible for a military medal despite their combined 32 years as members of the elite SEALs and multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Their actions were consistent with the way that elite operators are trained and conditioned to respond, and they sacrificed their lives protecting others,” Hunter said. “Since they were no longer in uniform, their actions won’t be recognized by the military awards that represent such extraordinary courage and selflessness under fire. The very least Congress can do is rightly honor their memory and sacrifice.”

Woods’ father said his son, who lived in Imperial Beach, and Doherty ignored orders to stay at a nearby CIA compound and not respond to the consulate attack.

“He loved those people, and even if he was told to stand down, he was not going to do so,” he said. “He willingly jeopardized his own life in order to try and save them.”

Doherty’s brother, Greg, said it would be humbling for his sibling to be recognized by Congress.

“I hope it goes through,” he said. “I’m proud of my brother for giving his life trying to save others. He didn’t do it for the honors — he believed in the cause and he wanted to help people who couldn’t help themselves.”

Lance Cummings, training director at the SEALFIT private gym in Encinitas where Doherty also worked, praised Hunter for introducing the bill.

“Glen and Ty were both warriors,” said Cummings, also a former SEAL. “They were teammates and of like mind in body and spirit, and when the call came for help, they answered it.”